Magnetic closure fashion belt

ABSTRACT

Provided is a fashion belt including a magnetic retention feature adapted to maintain the belt in a circular, hoop-like configuration on a wearer without a dangling end portion. The strap of the belt includes a plurality of magnets embedded therein. The magnets are positioned to allow an end portion of the strap to be magnetically secured or coupled to a central portion thereof through the magnetic interaction between the magnets.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/364,908, filed Jul. 16, 2010.

STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to wearing apparel and, more particularly, to a new and improved fashion belt which includes a magnetic retention feature specifically adapted to maintain the belt in a circular, hoop-like configuration without a dangling end portion.

2. Description of the Related Art

Belts have been a staple part of men's and women's wearing apparel for many, many years. A belt is a flexible band or strap typically made of leather or heavy cloth, and worm around the waist. Typically, the belt supports trousers or other articles of clothing, and also serves for style and decoration.

In most currently known belts, one end portion of the elongate strap is provided with a plurality of circularly configured apertures disposed therein, the apertures being separated from each other at prescribed intervals, often about one inch. Operatively secured to the opposed end portion of the strap is a buckle. A commonly configured buckle comprises a frame member which is of a prescribed shape and includes an elongate stem pivotally connected to a prescribed portion thereof.

In using the buckle to secure the opposed end portions of the strap to each other, the end portion of the strap having the apertures disposed therein is advanced through the interior of the frame member, with the stem being manipulated so as to be inserted into and through a corresponding one of the apertures. Typically, the length of the strap is such that even upon the advancement of the stem portion into one of the apertures, a segment of the end portion including the apertures extends beyond the buckle, and is thus susceptible to dangling or flapping since it is not otherwise secured to the remainder of the strap. To prevent such dangling or flapping, a typical practice is to advance such excess segment of the end portion of the strap through a belt loop. However, when the belt is worn with garments not having a belt loop positioned to accommodate such excess segment, another common practice is for the user to secure such segment to the remainder of the belt through the use of, for example, double-stick tape, or to complete an unsightly tuck of such segment into the garment to prevent the unsightly flapping or dangling described above.

The present invention provides a solution to belts including flapping or dangling end portions when worn by a wearer by providing a belt which is outfitted with a magnetic retention feature specifically adapted to maintain the belt in a circular, hoop-like configuration without a dangling end portion. These, as well as other features and advantages of the present invention will be described in more detail below.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided multiple embodiments of a fashion belt which includes a magnetic retention feature specifically adapted to maintain the belt in a circular, hoop-like configuration on a wearer without a dangling end portion. In one embodiment of the present invention, the strap of the belt includes a plurality of circularly configured magnets embedded therein in a prescribed arrangement, the magnets being positioned to allow an end portion of the strap to be magnetically secured or coupled to a central portion thereof through the magnetic interaction between a prescribed pair of the magnets. In another embodiment of the present invention, certain ones of the circularly configured magnets are substituted with an elongate magnetic plate or strip which is integrated into a cental portion of the strap as allows a stand alone magnet within and end portion of the strap to be magnetically coupled thereto. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic strip is substituted with an adjustable magnetic slider which is operatively positionable along the length of the strap so as to allow a stand alone magnet within and end portion of the strap to be magnetically coupled thereto.

The present invention is best understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These, as well as other features of the present invention, will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a prior art belt in an extended state;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a belt including a magnetic closure constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a belt with a magnetic closure constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a belt with a magnetic closure constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and detailed description to indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and not for purposes of limiting the same, FIG. 1 depicts a conventional, prior art belt 1. The belt 1 comprises an elongate strap 2 which defines opposed first and second end portions 3, 4, respectively. Disposed within the first end portion 3 is a plurality of circularly configured apertures 5 which are separated from each other by prescribed, equidistantly spaced intervals (e.g., one inch). Operatively coupled or connected to the second end portion 4 is a buckle 6 of the belt 1. The buckle 6 includes a peripheral frame member 7 having an elongate stem 8 pivotally connected to a prescribed portion thereof. As explained above, in the normal use of the belt 1 upon a wearer, the first end portion 3 is advanced through the interior of the frame member 7 of the buckle 6, with the stem 8 thereafter being advanced into and through a corresponding one of the apertures 5. However, that segment of the first end portion 3 extending between the aperture 5 through which the stem 8 is advanced and a distal end 9 of the strap 2 defined by the first end portion 3 is unsecured, and thus free to dangle when the belt 1 is in use on the wearer.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a belt 10 constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Like the prior art belt 1, the belt 10 comprises an elongate strap 12 which defines opposed first and second end portions 13, 14, respectively. Disposed within the first end portion 13 is a plurality of circularly configured apertures 15 which are separated from each other by prescribed, equidistantly spaced intervals (e.g., one inch). Operatively coupled or connected to the second end portion 14 is a buckle 16 of the belt 10 which is identically configured to the buckle 6. In this regard, the buckle 16 includes a peripheral frame member 17 having an elongate stem 18 pivotally connected to a prescribed portion thereof.

The belt 10 further comprises a plurality of magnets 20 which are embedded in prescribed locations within in the interior of the strap 12. More particularly, as seen in FIG. 2, three (3) magnets 20 are embedded in a central portion 11 of the strap 12 between the first and second end portions 13, 14 thereof. An additional, single magnet 20 is embedded in the first end portion 13 of the strap 12 in a location between the apertures 15 and a distal end 19 of the strap 12 defined by the first end portion 13 thereof. In the belt 10, each of the magnets 20 preferably has a generally circular configuration, though the present invention is not intended to be limited to any specific shape for the magnets 20.

In the normal use of the belt 10 upon a wearer, the first end portion 13 is advanced through the interior of the frame member 17 of the buckle 16, with the stem 18 thereafter being advanced into and through a corresponding one of the apertures 15. When the belt 10 is in use on a wearer, that segment of the first end portion 13 extending between the aperture 15 through which the stem 18 is advanced and the distal end 19 of the strap 12, which would normally be free to dangle, is magnetically securable to the remainder of the strap 12. More particularly, the magnet 20 embedded within the first end portion 13 is magnetically engageable to any one of the magnets 20 embedded in the central portion 11 of the strap 12.

Though three (3) magnets 20 are shown in FIG. 2 as being embedded in the central portion 11 of the strap 12, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that greater or fewer than three magnets 20 may be embedded in the central portion 11 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Along these lines, though the magnets 20 embedded in the central portion 11 are also shown in FIG. 2 as being separated from each other at equidistantly spaced intervals, it is also contemplated that such spacing may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is further contemplated that the belt 10, and in particular the number, spacing and positioning of the magnets 20 within the central portion 11 of the strap 12, will be selected so that the magnet 20 within the first end portion 13 may be easily aligned with a corresponding one of the magnets 20 in the central portion 11 when the belt 10 is used on a wearer.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a belt 100 constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The belt 100 of the second embodiment bears substantial structural similarity to the belt 10 of the first embodiment, with only the distinctions between the belts 100, 10 being described below.

The sole distinction between the belts 100, 10 lies in the three magnets 20 disposed in the central portion 11 of the strap 12 of the belt 10 being substituted with an elongate magnetic strip 102 in the belt 100. Thus, the strip 102 is also disposed in a prescribed location within the central portion 11 of the strap 12. When the belt 100 is in use on a wearer, that segment of the first end portion 13 extending between the aperture 15 through which the stem 18 is advanced and the distal end 19 of the strap 12, which would normally be free to dangle, is magnetically securable to the remainder of the strap 12. More particularly, the magnet 20 embedded within the first end portion 13 is magnetically engageable to the strip 102 embedded in the central portion 11 of the strap 12.

Though the strip 102 is shown in FIG. 3 as having a generally quadrangular (e.g., rectangular) configuration, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the present invention is not intended to be limited to any specific shape for the strip 102. Additionally, it is contemplated that the strip 102 will fabricated to be of a thickness which imparts at least some measure of bendability or pliability thereto. Still further, the length of the strip 102 relative to the strap 12 as shown in FIG. 3 is intended to be exemplary only, in that the length of the strip 102 may be selectively increased or decreased from that shown in FIG. 3 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a belt 200 constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. The belt 200 of the third embodiment also bears substantial structural similarity to the belt 10 of the first embodiment, with only the distinctions between the belts 200, 10 being described below.

The sole distinction between the belts 200, 10 lies in the three magnets 20 disposed in the central portion 11 of the strap 12 of the belt 10 being substituted with an magnetic slider 202 in the belt 200. In the belt 200, the slider 202 is movably mounted to the strap 12, and selectively, slidably positionable along the length of the strap 12. When the belt 200 is in use on a wearer, that segment of the first end portion 13 extending between the aperture 15 through which the stem 18 is advanced and the distal end 19 of the strap 12, which would normally be free to dangle, is magnetically securable to the remainder of the strap 12. More particularly, the magnet 20 embedded within the first end portion 13 is magnetically engageable to the slider 202 after the same has been moved to a location on the central portion 11 of the strap 12 by the wearer which effectively aligns the slider 202 with the magnet 20.

In each embodiment of the present invention, it is contemplated that the strap 12 will be fabricated from two layer of a pliable material which are secured to other, with the magnets 20 alone or in combination with the strip 102 being captured between such layers. Along these lines, it is also contemplated that in each of the aforementioned embodiments of the present invention, an additional layer of a pliable, non-magnetic material may be interposed between the magnets 20 and that layer of the strap 20 which will normally be outwardly presented on the wearer so as to prevent any inadvertent magnetic attraction between the magnets 20 and an external metal object. This objective could also potentially be accomplished by making the outwardly presented layer of the strap 20 of sufficient thickness to prevent such magnetic attraction.

This disclosure provides exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited by these exemplary embodiments. Numerous variations, whether explicitly provided for by the specification or implied by the specification, such as variations in structure, dimension, type of material and manufacturing process may be implemented by one of skill in the art in view of this disclosure. 

1. A belt comprising: an elongate strap defining a first end portion, an opposed second end portion, and a central portion disposed between the first and second end portions; a first magnetic element disposed within the strap adjacent the first end portion; and a second magnetic element disposed within the central portion of the strap; the first end portion of the strap being magnetically securable to the central portion of the strap via the first and second magnetic elements.
 2. The belt recited in claim 1, wherein the second magnetic element includes a plurality of magnets.
 3. The belt recited in claim 2, wherein the magnets are separated from each other at substantially equidistantly spaced intervals.
 4. The belt recited in claim 2, wherein each magnet has a generally circular configuration.
 5. The belt recited in claim 1, further comprising a buckle connected to the second end portion of the strap.
 6. The belt recited in claim 5, wherein: the strap includes a plurality of apertures formed adjacent the first end portion, the apertures being disposed in spaced relation to each other; and the buckle includes a frame member and a stem pivotally connected to the frame member, the stem being configured to be selectively advanceable through one of the plurality of apertures.
 7. The belt recited in claim 6, wherein the first end portion terminates at a distal end, the first magnetic element being disposed between the plurality of apertures and the distal end.
 8. The belt recited in claim 1, wherein the second magnetic element comprises an elongate magnetic strip.
 9. The belt recited in claim 8, wherein the magnetic strip has a generally quadrangular configuration.
 10. The belt recited in claim 9, wherein the first magnetic element is flexible.
 11. The belt recited in claim 1, wherein the second magnetic element comprises a magnetic slider moveably mounted to the strap.
 12. The belt recited in claim 11, wherein the magnetic slider is slidably positionable along the length of the strap.
 13. A belt comprising: an elongate strap defining a first end portion, an opposed second end portion, and a central portion disposed between the first and second end portions; a first magnetic element connected to the strap adjacent the first end portion; and a second magnetic element connected to the central portion of the strap; the first end portion of the strap being magnetically securable to the central portion of the strap via the first and second magnetic elements.
 14. The belt recited in claim 13, wherein the second magnetic element includes a plurality of magnets.
 15. The belt recited in claim 13, wherein the second magnetic element comprises an elongate magnetic strip.
 16. The belt recited in claim 13, wherein the second magnetic element comprises a magnetic slider moveably mounted to the strap.
 17. A belt configured to be worn around the midsection of a wearer, the belt comprising: a strap defining a first end portion defining a distal end, an opposed second end portion and a central portion disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion; and a buckle connected to the second end portion; the first end portion being advanceable through the buckle and engeable therewith to define a closed loop about the wearer, the segment of the first end portion disposed between the buckle and the distal end being magnetically attractable to the central portion.
 18. The belt recited in claim 17, further comprising: a first magnetic element disposed within the strap adjacent the first end portion; and a second magnetic element disposed within the central portion of the strap;
 19. The belt recited in claim 18, wherein the second magnetic element comprises a plurality of magnets.
 20. The belt recited in claim 18, wherein the second magnetic element comprises a magnetic slider moveably mounted to the strap. 